Go for Boker

BokerSimple is truly underrated, but the Boker Plus Albatros Knife might just change that perception. This simple steel blade is housed within two thick plates of titanium to keep the weight down while still being one strong knife. Unfolded it is nearly seven inches of serious cutting power for the campsite, hiking trial or even the backyard.

Boker Official Website

Goto Vargo

VargoWe have a serious appreciation of titanium at KineticShift and for that reason alone find the Vargo Titanium Wharn-Clip Knife to be kind of cool. Add the fact that it is made from a single piece of the super strong medal and that it is easy to sharpen over and over, plus it features an integrated clip and that just make it super cool. This is a knife that can is light enough you won’t notice it but it can still be looped to a bag, on the belt or vest and be there when you need it.

Vargo Titanium Wharn-Clip Knife Official Website

Taking a Dive

Dive-Master-500Victorinox, the makers of the Swiss Army Knives, has long made watches and this spring the company launched a limited titanium edition of its Dive Master 500, which is limited to just 500 pieces. It features a 43mm case in Grade II titanium and is water resistant to up to 500 meters. It also features protected screw down crown and push buttons.

Victorinox Official Website

Airbus Ready to Roll

AirbusCharge Bikes is charging ahead with a new brand dubbed Fabric. This includes a new collaboration with aerospace giant Airbus to produce bike saddles with 3D-printed titanium rails and carbon shells. The seats look to be aerodynamic, sleek and lightweight. They almost look like these could take flight right off the bike.

Charge Bikes Official Website
[Via BikeRadar: Fabric saddles – sonic bonds and hyper pins]

Chill Out?

CLIMACHILLAfter this long harsh winter the last thing most people are likely to want to do is “chill out,” but soon the temperatures will rise and the Adidas Climachill technology will keep athletes from getting overheated. And it does so by putting metal into the clothing, but this is no suit of armor.

The line incorporates innovative fabric woven with titanium and industry-first 3D aluminium cooling spheres that provide an instant chilling sensation. The high tech fabric is designed to transfer heat away from the body to help the athletes’ performance in warm conditions – lowering their body temperature so they can train harder, run longer, retain focus and compete at the highest level.

The micro fiber fabric allows the apparel to provide the cooling properties of mesh, and in doing so can move excess moisture away from the skin. It utilizes evaporation and conduction methods together for the first time, the ground-breaking SubZero flat yarn contains titanium and is woven throughout the inside of each article of clothing. Flat yarn has more surface area than traditional yarns, which enables it to transfer heat away from your body.

Adidas Climachill Official Website

Titanium Printing May Revolutionize Bike Production

MX-6-Evo-mountain-bikeThe above image may look like a piece of modern art, or perhaps the digestive system for a robotic man – but it is in fact parts for a 3D-printed titanium bicycle frame. Renishaw, an additive manufacturing firm based in the U.K., has joined forces with Empire Cycles to build a one-off titanium MX-6 mountain bike.

Empire Cycles already offers a production version of the bike but in aluminum, yet it has been long noted that titanium has a high Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) that is far greater than aluminum. One issue has been that titanium is also denser than aluminum, so the parts had to be altered and material not contributing to the overall strength removed.

Titanium is a perfect metal for 3D printing as it isn’t a traditional ore, and it now appears that the bike industry is looking to get rolling on this technology. The future could be printed bikes that can be faster to produce and likely even more affordable for the rider.

Press Release: First metal 3D printed bicycle frame manufactured by Renishaw for Empire Cycles

RaceWare Goes 3D (Printing)

RaceWareCustomized products are nothing new, but RaceWare Direct is taking it up a notch thanks to 3D printing technologies. The company will soon be offering products that can be very customizable when it comes to color and text, and is offering a number of bicycle mounts in both 3D printed nylon and titanium.

The online customization service will launch later this year.

RaceWare Direct Official Website

Printed Flyer

Flying-Machine3D printing continues to revolutionize the world, and the Flying Machine shows just what can it can do. This “printed flyer” is actually a full size bike that offers fully 3D printed titanium lugs. The Australian bike maker has utilized advances in EBM (Electron beam melting), which allows for thicker layers of material to printed and thus results in a quicker manufacturing time.

While this is still quite a ways from a fully 3D printed bike the Flying Machine could show that the sky is the limit.

Flying Machine Official Website
[Via BikeRadar: Flying Machine’s 3D printed titanium frame]

Holiday Gift Guide: For the Extreme Archer

Archer-XtremeArcher Xtreme has introduced the Titanium Recon, an arrow rest that is clearly a step above the rest. This is more than simply for reducing weight, and the AAE’s DOA trigger technology allows the launcher to support the arrow longer, and fall faster than competing designs.

The tight tolerances and proven technology increase accuracy where it matters most — down range – while the internal trigger system allows the archer to micro tune the rest to the arrow for longer arrow contact through the second paradox. This ensures target-like accuracy from any setup at any range.

Moreover, the performance is further enhanced by AXT’s use of carbon and titanium materials, and the result is a launcher that allows for up to a 30 percent increase in speed and arrow contact. Now we’d call that extreme.

Archer Xtreme Official Website

Holiday Gift Guide: Ti One On With Moots

MootsSearching for that perfect gift for the roadie who seems to have everything? Chances are, if they own a Moots titanium road bike frame, they don’t have one of these – a Moots silver head badge. Moots Cycles, located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, has commissioned their head badge artist, Michael Cherney, to create a limited production run of just eight Moots modern-era head badges. Each of these one troy ounce, Sterling Silver head badges is created by hand using an investment cast and lost wax process, a technique long used by jewelry makers to create intricately designed pieces. Continue reading Holiday Gift Guide: Ti One On With Moots

Holiday Gift Guide: Loving Spoonful

Titanium-SpoonPerhaps you have friends that act like they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but you can show them with the Optimus Titanium Long Spoon. It is ideal for those on the go, and is durable and rugged. It can also reach deep into stand-up food pouches – making it ideal for commoners as well.

Optimus Titanium Long Spoon Official Website

Holiday Gift Guide: Light Like Flint

Titanium-Flint-LighterFire is an essential part of camping, and sure there are plenty of ways to start one, but the Vargo Titanium Flint Lighter makes it so easy. It can easily clip to key chains, zipper pulls and even backpack straps, and it is durable enough to provide more than 1,000 lights. The reliable striking mechanism provides a dependable spark in any weather and it utilizes a one-hand operation.

Vargo Titanium Flint Lighter

Spyderco Goes Szabo

Spyderco-SzaboWe see a lot of unique product names but the Spyderco Szabo folding knife gets its name not from some far off land, but rather its creator Laci Szabo, a law enforcement officer, a veteran U.S. Marine, and a word-class martial artist. The visionary knife designer created a folding blade that reflects his philosophies regarding folding knife design as it applies to both utility and personal defense. Its large size creates a commanding presence and offers increased reach when used with fencing-style skills.

The scimitar-shaped blade has a long, gently curving belly to maximize cutting power, while leaving the tip well centered to support point-oriented tactics. The handle is constructed of full stainless steel liners capped by black Cubic Check carbon fiber/G-10 laminate scales while the blade features a non-reflective titanium carbonitride coating. This year has seen the introduction of the all-new all-black edition that is better suited to tactical applications.

But you don’t need to be Special Forces to get your hands on one, and anyone in the field or camping can benefit from this lightweight and incredibly durable blade that promises to provide a secure, non-slip grip.

Spyderco Szabo Folder Official Website